Pinion gear removal?????

[Jack Klarich]

No, they're still in. So I guess I need to remove the push rods? how hard is that?

If you do not have adjustables now would be a good time to put them in Harley Davidson Community start out reading here

 

[TQuentin1]

So why couldn't I just remove the lower gear and slide the cam back in? I trust your opinion.

The camshaft has been disturbed by removing the nose cone and then by rotating the engine. This has allowed the valves to close, or partially close. You have the pressure of the valve springs pushing on the rockers-pushrods-cam lobes that you are fighting against to try and get the camshaft back in position. It will be VERY difficult to accomplish this and get the nose cone back on. The only way to do this now without potentially damaging something is to take the spring load off the pushrods. That can only be done by the two methods I previously mentioned.

TQ